BMW Bids Bangle Begone

Well it's official. Chris Bangle, head of design at BMW since 1992, and the man who singlehandedly stirred up a hornet's nest of criticism with his 2001 designs, is leaving the German automaker. The article says this is strictly voluntary. What do you think?

"Cynics might also point out that there is also a rough correlation of profit weakness with the tenure of controversial stylist Chris Bangle, famed for the Bangle butt on the 2001 7 Series, and "flame-surfacing." Bangle left the company early this year."

Strong Euro won't help anything, especially facing a weak dollar. The globalized economy (which means less for the western masses and more for a chosen few) also does not help sales volumes of products above a lowest common denominator level. Real incomes aren't growing.

Combine it with the enviro-nazi propaganda and the "speed kills" scaredy cats who have gained in number even in Europe...and it doesn't bode well for people who like to drive.

I don't even like to drive anymore, and this is a man who owned literally a hundred cars in his life, went racing and loved driving. I hate it now. Cops are everywhere raking in revenue for city shortfalls.

I'm not sure why anyone would buy a high-performance car anymore, unless you lived in the desert or some such or can justify spending $50,000 to goose it for 3 seconds on an on-ramp twice a day.

Perhaps we are on the cutting edge of yet another breaking trend, that firms like BMW should seriously contemplate---why build cars in the US that are in direct collision with speed laws?

I'd be more interested in a car with stealth technology---might even look kinda cool

I find that troubling in general! I don't want an encore performance of the late 1970s/early 1980s!

I don't either but I'm afraid that we are headed that way. There's a bunch of reasons for it but in fact our automotive priorities are becoming extremely distorted. Cars have become too heavy and too gadget-laden to the point where 300HP is the minimal requirement for having any fun (BMW is as guilty as anyone).

I'm looking for a a car that is both fuel-efficient and fun, something that will get me thru the oncoming era the way my Fiat Spider got me thru the years '71-'79. It wasn't the fastest car around but it was a ball to drive and had style and spirit.

"Perhaps we are on the cutting edge of yet another breaking trend, that firms like BMW should seriously contemplate---why build cars in the US that are in direct collision with speed laws? "

How about in direct collision with gas usage? My BMW 2009 X3 gets 14-15 mpg and it is small for an SUV. I heard that the 5-series Gran Turismo is as large as a 7 series. Isn't that going in the wrong direction?

BMW has a video where Bangle talks about how hard it was to design the X3. It has a very nice interior layout that uses the space very efficiently. On the outside, particularly the tail lights however, he could have thought things through somewhat better.

Like I always say: "performance comes at a price". However, there is no excuse for making a car or a component unattractive.

My opinion is that anyone can be "outrageous", and shock people. This is easy, really, and, sadly, often rewarded in our culture---until 3 months later when we're all sick of it and we sober up---then we get shocked again.

BMW has prospered by making generally attractive cars, for the most part, modestly designed, for decades and decades. Then some fashion plate comes in and screws it all up, as if there were no BMW "genetics" going on for the last 75+ years.

The E60 5er is arguably the most heinous BMW styling effort in modern history. The company will be better off the more it is in the past. I have never been able to figure out what I loathe most about it - the headlight and taillight designs, or the interior.

Some cars, especially from certain regions, have adopted very anime-like faces. I don't want to drive a Pokemon or a car that looks like the eyes of a woman who has received five-too-many facelifts (or in the case of the E60 5er, someone dressed in drag) :shades:

The new RL has that 'Transformers' ideal going for it, edgy for the sake of edgy.

Hated E60 at first, now I love it...so much, I just traded in my E39. Call me fickle but I think it's time to step into the future of where styling is going...after all, the E60 has been the best selling iteration thus far. Could this just be the beginning? :shades:

Isn't the busybody Bangle styling slowly going away? The newest and upcoming BMWs seem to be a little more normal. The F10 is very much 7er-influenced and calmer styling-wise than the E60. I think that's the future, not so much the E60 which was on the road 7 years ago and is kind of relevant as more of a mid-decade styling exercise. I think BMW is very lucky that it kind of became a lifestyle brand at the same time the weirdo styling got rolling, so the badge was able to overcome the oddness.

The E60 drives very nicely no doubt...but, especially for the earlier versions, I can't get over the front, the back, and the interior styling.

I think BMW's large problem going forward is mileage. What does their best model (in the US) get, 18 city 28 highway? Not going to cut it. The 1 series should have the 4 cyclinder diesel in it, and it may happen eventually, but if you are going to drop 44k for a new 3 series, people want mileage and performance.

I had just purchased my 2003 530SP when I found myself working in Germany for a bit. Had a chance to drive the 2004 e60 prior to USA launch... just didn't appeal or "speak" to me in the manner my '03 did.

End result... I still drive my '03 530 and enjoy it as much now as when I bought it. Just a fabulous sport sedan that I keep well maintained with proactive maintenance performed by my BMW Indy shop. Actually, no major issues to date at 77K miles other than tires, TSB work or other preventative work done under warranty.

The rear wishbone joint cups are split and will be replaced after I get new summer tires; still on the original clutch, struts and shocks. My maintenance records indicate it costs 10 cents per mile to maintain for everything.

All that seems reasonable at the mileages stated, except the radiator---BMW took a long time to square away their cooling systems. 10 cents a mile is pretty darn good overall. Goes to show ya'....ounce of prevention and all that.....

I do wonder though why BMW can't make a 3 series as comfortable inside for larger people as the much smaller MINI.

I was under the impression that the radiator has plastic necks and they were the problem; and I did not want to cook the engine. The next radiator flush will be this fall and I will replace the water pump. Also, my 530i is a 5 speed and I think an automatic would cost 1 to 2 cents more per mile.